Country singer-songwriter Tenille Arts has just finished her UK tour alongside Caylee Hammack. The Platinum-selling Canadian artist has already accumulated her fair share of accolades and has gained high visibility through singles such as “Somebody Like That,” “I Hate This,” and “Back Then, Right Now.”

This week, we were able to gain a little more insight into Tenille’s music when we had a chat before her gig at the Canvas Manchester. Later that night, she went on to perform a great set, showcasing her stunning live vocals backed by her talented band. 

You can also listen to the interview below.

How's the UK tour going?

It's been awesome. Caylee and I have gotten to know each other a lot more and it's been a lot of fun. Just seeing the crowds again, releasing new music and then coming over here is really fun because I feel like people already know the words to all the songs and it's really fun to play to audiences like this. And especially this size of venue, I feel like it's so intimate and you get to know people really well. I love it.

Yeah, especially like... It's quite nice around here. Because I believe you've been to Glasgow already, have you? And London?

Yeah. I mean, I've been over here probably about five times now. I think Glasgow only twice, London a few times, and it's just every time it's bigger and better and more fun.

Nice. Well, because it goes on to the other thing I've thought about. Obviously in the UK country music is up-and-coming. It's maybe not mainstream, but it's getting more popular. With you being from Canada, I was wondering, what's the difference you think versus say, the crowd in Canada or the scene in Canada versus the USA scene? How would you describe it? Is it similar?

Well, I couldn't compare Canada and Nashville really easily because Nashville, there's so much talent. So when you go to a show, people are kinda there, not judging you, but it's a lot of industry people. It's a little less fan-based and more industry-based versus Canada is very… They're a very polite audience. They sit the whole time and they clap really nice and then they give you a standing ovation and you're like, I didn't even know if you liked me the whole time {Laughs}. They take a minute to warm up to it, but it's great. There's audiences like that all over the world. You kinda just have to judge it based on your experience in each place.

I've also noticed you've done a recent collaboration, a duet with LeAnn Rimes. What was it like teaming up and doing a single with her? What was that like? Was that good?

It was really really cool. I've been obviously a LeAnne Rimes fan for a long time. I've been singing her version of Blue since I was eight years old. It was really a full circle moment. She heard the song and really liked it. We asked if she would put her vocals on it, and she did. It was just this whole looking back on it now. I'm like, if I could tell my little eight-year-old self that one day I was going to have a duet with LeAnne, that'd be really cool. It ended up happening and she's been so great, just so kind. She's been in the industry for a long time since she was very young and she's just been a great friend to have.

Oh, nice. Yeah. Because you did the Matt Stell one too, because we interviewed him last year as well. I think he's great too.

I love Matt Stell. He's so awesome, so funny and just a super talented guy and I'm so glad that I have a song with him because any time we're on the same show together, we always play it, so, it's fun.

Yeah, he's a good guy. 

Over the last few years, I've listened to quite a few of your songs and I really like the stuff. I think one of my favourite ones is Growing Old Young. 

So, well, one question, I wonder if you're going to play that tonight?

Yes, {Laughs}

And I also just wondered what the song was about?

That song is so... I feel like everybody takes it and puts it into their own life. The song, when I wrote it, I was talking about a lot of different people in my life, different stories and putting it all into one. A lot of it talks about parents, maybe people who have had parents get divorced or just people that don't talk about their feelings or anything like that. It's kinda become this mental health song in a way because you got to reach out to people, you got to talk to each other, and the more you share, the more other people become open to sharing with you. I think that's so important. I talk about that before I play the song. Everybody kinda has a moment where they felt like they had to grow up a little bit and that's what the song's all about.

Yeah, it's a really nice song.

Thank you.

I was also wondering, have you got a standout gig where you'd think, Wow, that was amazing?

Oh, gosh. There's been a few. Obviously, playing the Grand Ole Opry is always amazing.

Obviously, you only get three songs, so it's a short window of time to get to know the audience.

But one of my favourite shows that I did recently was at the Troubadour in L.A. And it was the first time playing some new songs from my new album that people have never heard before and just got to celebrate with a lot of real diehard fans. And that's fun.

Yeah.

Well, I won't keep you too long. I normally ask this, have you got a message for your fans and followers?

Oh my gosh, just thank you. I can't even say that enough. Being able to come over here. I used to think like going to the US, oh, cool. Maybe Canada and the US will know my music. But I never even dreamed that it would come all the way over here and that people would care so much. I'm just so grateful that I get to do that all the way over here. It's insane to me.

Well, yeah, nice one. Thank you very much. I'll look forward to hearing your set tonight.

Sounds good. Thank you so much. 

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.